The Ghost in the Shell S01 E05

Season 1, Episode 05 – "Phantom Fund"

This episode formally introduces the series' core overarching mystery. After a six-year disappearance, the notorious hacker known as The Laughing Man resurfaces. He publicly hacks a live broadcast to threaten the assassination of the police Superintendent General. Public Security Section 9 is called in to investigate the threat and protect the official, quickly realizing they are dealing with a complex corporate and government conspiracy.